Jack E. Nickerson

Jack Earl Nickerson, 90 of Missoula, passed away on Thursday April 16 at St. Patrick Hospital of natural causes. In his own words, he was "jack of all trades, master of none."

He was born on February 19, 1925 in Plentywood, Montana to Earl and Ethel Nickerson who had homesteaded on a farm near Plentywood. Jack loved his time on the farm telling stories of the harvest, horse and buggy travel, and the one-room Nickerson school house. The impact of the dust bowl times on the farm required the Nickersons to move back to Whitewater, Wisconsin where Jack graduated from high school. At age 18 Jack joined the army on June 10, 1943, and served in Europe. Jack was in the 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division participating in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns.

On June 7, 1952, he married Anne Groskurth in Bozeman. They finished college in Bozeman and ultimately moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho where he worked in the nuclear materials testing lab and as a high school physics teacher. Jack was the president of the Idaho Falls American Federation of Teachers, Boy Scout troop leader, an active writer to the Idaho Falls Post Register 'letters to the editor,' a member of the Nickerson Family Association, and the 70th Division Association.

Jack is described by his children as "a strong advocate for education," "a detailed letter writer," "an amazing singer and dancer," "a passionate caregiver," and a "meticulous record keeper."

He is survived by his children, Bart of Seattle, WA; Ross (Norma), Missoula; Aran (Debbie), Boise, ID; and Peggy (Dave), Virginia Beach, VA; eight grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; and other extended family members.

Visitation will be on Monday April 20, 8:30-9:30 AM at Garden City Funeral Home followed by a graveside service at 10:00 a.m. Missoula City Cemetery with full military honors.

Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com


Read Jack Nickerson's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.